NCT07016061

Acute Effects of Motor Imagery and Action Observation in the Elderly: Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Dokuz Eylul University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 65 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of acute action observation, motor imagery, exercise, and combined exercise training on parameters such as balance, reaction time, flexibility, fear of falling, cognitive status, attention, and memory in older adults.

Detailed description

Previous studies investigating motor imagery and action observation training have examined their long-term effects in both young and older adults. Existing evidence regarding the benefits of exercise training indicates positive effects in both populations. However, the number of studies focusing on the acute effects of motor imagery and action observation training in the literature is very limited. Individuals who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned-using the Research Randomizer application-into five groups: motor imagery, action observation, exercise, combined exercise, and control group. A total of 50 participants, with 10 individuals in each group, will be included in the study. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention.

Conditions

• Elderly (People Aged 65 or More)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Motor İmagery Group	Participants will engage in a motor imagery exercise program consisting of 5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of motor imagery, and 5 minutes of cool-down, totaling 30 minutes. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHER	Action Observation Group	Participants will receive an action observation training program delivered by researchers, including 5 minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of action observation, and 5 minutes of cool-down, totaling 30 minutes. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHER	Exercise Group	Participants will perform a standard physical exercise program. The session will last 30 minutes, including warm-up, exercise, and cool-down phases. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.
OTHER	Combined Group (Motor Imagery + Action Observation+Exercise)	articipants will engage in a combined motor imagery and action observation program for a total of 30 minutes, incorporating elements of both interventions. The intervention will be administered in three sessions per week for one week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-06-15
• Primary completion: 2025-07-15
• Completion: 2025-08-20
• First posted: 2025-06-11
• Last updated: 2025-06-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)